Howard Ashman News

Bristol Riverside Theatre starts off its 27th season as a record year for the company. Its first mainstage production, Steve Solomon's My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm STILL in Therapy!, broke all box office records, becoming the highest grossing non-musical production in the company's history. Playing to multiple packed performances, this hilarious one-man comedy goes back in time with Steve from his baby years with his twin sister, right up to the present introducing audiences to Uncle Willie, stuttering Cousin Bob, demented Cousin Kenny, Steve's new therapist, Cousin Sal and Sal's parole officer, and other astounding characters we know, love and tolerate from our own families.

Musicals Tonight! the Obie-winning company dedicated to the revival of neglected musicals continues its 2013-14 season with a 16-performance run of Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman's 1986 musical SMILE (October 22 - November 3) directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by David Bishop.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Segerstrom Hall from January 14 - 19, 2014.

Kentwood Players has received critical praise and audience raves on its wildly popular production of the comedy rock musical 'Little Shop of Horrors' at the Westchester Playhouse. Performances continue through October 19, 2013 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm with Sunday matinees at 2pm Call (310) 645-5156 for tickets before they are gone!

Musicals Tonight! announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring Cole Porter, Marvin Hamlisch, Will Holt, George & Ira Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart.

On October 25, at 8pm, the Brooklyn Academy of Music is presenting a sing-along screening of The Little Shop of Horrors. Rick Moranis, who brought the role of Seymour Krelborn to life in the film, will make a special appearance at the screening.

'Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to St. Louis, Mo. as part of the U.S. Bank Broadway series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Fabulous Fox Theatre November 1-3.

Disney's Aladdin Jr. will be presented at The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA tonight, October 4th (8:00pm), Saturday, October 5th (8:00pm) and Sunday, October 6th (3:00pm Matinee).

Today in 2003, Little Shop of Horrors opened at the Virginia THeatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 372 performances. Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, 'Skid Row (Downtown)', 'Somewhere That's Green', and 'Suddenly, Seymour'.

Announcing SBCT's 2014 Season - a year filled with incredible stories all played out live on stage. Stories to make you laugh with joy, cry in pain, shudder in terror, and smile in wonder. 2014 offers some new and rare opportunities to experience theatre in exciting ways:

Today we are talking to a recognizable and well-known character actor who has appeared in a number of notable stage and screen properties over the course of his fifty-year career, Shakespeare to COCO to CITY OF ANGELS to STAR TREK and galaxies far, far beyond - Rene Auberjonois. Detailing the finer points of his participation in a number of wildly different stage properties - from his Broadway debut in Lee J. Cobb's Lincoln Center KING LEAR through to COCO opposite Katharine Hepburn, a starring role in CITY OF ANGELS, as well as the infamous DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and Larry Gelbart's SLY FOX this century, and many more - Auberjonois paints a vivid picture of the working actor throughout the decades. Additionally, Auberjonois also outlines his favorite moments in participating in a number of Robert Altman's most memorable movies - MASH and MCCABE & MRS. MILLER among them - and shares stories from the sets of many of his best-known and best-remembered film appearances - THE EYES OF LAURA MARS and many more included. Plus, Auberjonois also comments on some of his favorite TV parts to date, including his enduring STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE legacy and his most recent projects such as the animated series POUND PUPPIES and ARCHER. Most importantly, Auberjonois offers insight into his indelible participation in the enduring Disney animated family favorite THE LITTLE MERMAID, including how the recent 3D re-release and this week's special features-packed Blu-ray has introduced his famous voice and theatricality to a whole new generation. All of that, thoughts on Broadway now versus the Golden Age, his continued patronage in supporting renown charity Doctors Without Borders, working on Stephen Schwartz's GEPPETTO for Disney and much, much more awaits in this uniquely compelling career-spanning conversation with a stage and screen stalwart.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its season with Jon Jory's adaptation of Pride & Prejudice in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's beloved novel. Running October 29-November 24, the production, directed by BRT's Artistic Director Keith Baker, features the ensemble cast ofJessica Bedford, Grant Chapman, Rose Fairley, Michael Gamache, Jessica Gruver, Michael Halling, Hannah Kahn, Samantha Kuhl, Mark LeVasseur, Robert Ian Mackenzie, Topher Mikels, Erin Mulgrew, Mary Elizabeth Scallen, and Jo Twiss.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is a family event that takes a small Sci-Fi premise and adds a plant, some rockin' music, and a wild group of characters on a roller coaster of fun! Bring the whole family!

Following their critically acclaimed inaugural and sold out production of Spring Awakening in April this year, Assembled Junk Productions have announced the cast for their forthcoming three week professional fringe production of Alan Menkin and Howard Ashman's cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, running Tuesday 3rd - Sunday 22nd of December 2013, with press night slated for Thursday 5th December at 7:00pm.

Got green thumb? Check this out. But, wait, there's more!

Disney's Aladdin Jr. will be presented at The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA on Friday, October 4th (8:00pm), Saturday, October 5th (8:00pm) and Sunday, October 6th (3:00pm Matinee). Aladdin, Jr. is a bright, fast-paced, fun-filled show for the whole family. The Academy award-winning score includes favorite songs and offers audiences a chance to "enjoy the choral melodies of 'Arabian Nights' and 'Prince Ali'; to watch as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine escape from the evil Jafar in 'One Jump Ahead,' and as they fall in love with 'A Whole New World'; and to laugh and sing along as the Genie transforms Aladdin in 'A Friend Like Me.'" Under the direction of Mimi Grubb, the show features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased on the theatre's website: www.TheNorthTheatre.com or by calling the box office at 434-793-SHOW (7469).

For 36 years, JPAS has continued to bring the best in the performing arts to venues from Jefferson Parish, the Metro Area, to the North Shore and beyond. Thanks to loyal patron support we have grown to become Louisiana's largest professional touring company. Our offerings are abundantly varied and our outreach is extensive. This season is no exception!

Little Shop of Horrors/book & lyrics by Howard Ashman/music by Alan Menken/based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith/directed & choreographed by Michael-Anthony Nozzi/music direction by Joshua Eli Kranz/Kentwood Players at Westchester Playhouse/through October 19

Cranford Dramatic Club ("Little Shop of Horrors," "Dear Edwina") will hold its 95th theater season kickoff fundraiser on Saturday, September 21, at its home theater (78 Winans Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey).

Kentwood Players has a smash hit on its hands with the comedy rock musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS now onstage through October 19 at the Westchester Playhouse. Here's your first look at onstage photos of the production including the set and puppets designed by Michael-Anthony Nozzi and costumes designed by Maria Cohen and Arlene Cohen.